Doorcatch



F. H. M CORMICK DOORCATCH Filed Aug. 23, 1932 Inventor: Fvancis H. McCormick I 6 His Attorney.

Patented Jan. 29, 1935 1,989,485

UNITED STATES PATENT ornclz 1,989,487 DOOROATCH Francis E. McCormick, Glen Ellyn. 111., assignor to Edison General Electric Appliance Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application August 23, 1932, Serial No. 630,045

2 Claims. (Cl. 126-194) My invention relates to catch mechanism for 18. The front wall 18 is provided with an opening doors and the like, more particularly for oven 20 whereby access can be had to the oven. This doors, and has for its object the provision of an opening normally is closed by a suitable door 21. improved device of this character. The p, bottom, de and end Walls More specifically, my invention relates to catch are formed from a pair of spaced metallic linings 6 mechanism for drop oven doors of electric ranges between which a suitable heat insulating mawhich are arranged to swing about a horizontal erial such as rock wool is placed. The door 21 axis, and contemplates the provision of improved also is formed from a pair of space metallic linmeans for latching the door in its closed posiings between which a similar insulating material tion, arranged so that all parts of the catch mechwill be placed. 10 anism are concealed thereby enhancing the ap- The oven, broiler, cooking to pearance of the oven.

In carrying my invention into effect in one form 22 which in turn is supported in an thereof, I provide suitable latching means cooption Su ab e egs 23. erating with a member carried by the door and The door 21 is hinged to move about its lower 16 arranged to engage it when the door is moved to horizontal edge so t its closed position so as to hold the door closed. Vertical closed Position (Figs. 1 and 2) to a hori- In the specific form of my invention disclosed, fi p n pos tion (Fig. The door is further s for counter-balthe front walls of the oven. in my U. S. Patent No. 1,809,715, dated June 9,

For a more complete understanding of my in- 1931.

25 vention reference should be had to the accom- 115 there describe pany ng drawing in whi h Fig, 1 is an l vati Y prises a pair of hinge brackets 25, each of which sectional view of the range of Fig. 1 illustrating an arc-shaped arm portion 25c. The arm porthe door catch arranged in accordance with my tions 25a are secured to the door in any suitable invention; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view-of the ann a y means f W ldin Wh reas the range of Fig. 1, portions being broken away so as portions 251? p j wa y f om the door to illustrate certain structural details; Fig. 4 is a at Substantially right angles to t e plane of t fragmentary sectional view of the range of Fig. 1, door. but illustrating the catch mechanism in an op- It will be observed that the bell cranks 25 are erativeposition difl'erent from that shown in piv a ly m unt d at th ap x s upon a hinge operative position, oven floor. The rod is supported at its ends by 4 Referring to the drawing, I have shown my inany suitable means such as clip members 27. The vention in one form as applied to an electric brackets 25 DIOVided With bearihg'seais 28 vided and beneath the cooking top is arranged a' p n p i ion (Fi 5). suitable service drawer 13. Suitable electric The arms 25b serve to mechanically connect the heating elements (not shown) are provided for door with its counter-balance. This counterthe oven broiler and cooking top.

The oven heating chamber is defined by a pair 32 secured at its central portion t of side walls 14 and 15, an end wall (not shown), the two bottom walls 17 of the av top and bottom walls 1d and 17 and a front. wall each end of the spring ismechanically connected with the hinge bracket 25 positioned at that end of the oven. These connections are efiected by means of vertically disposed links 33. The end portions 32a of the spring member 32, as shown, are turned vertically upwardly and these portions are secured to the lower ends of the links 33 by means of suitable studs 34 attached to the links and passed through suitable apertures provided for them in the upturned ends of the spring. The upper ends of the links are provided with similar stud-like members 35 which are received in apertures 36 provided for them in the arms 25b of the brackets 25.

It will be observed that by reason of these connections the spring 32 is mechanically connected with both of the hinge brackets 25 in such manner that it will serve to counter-balance the door throughout both its opening ments. Thus, when the door is opened the ends of the spring will be moved upwardly tensioning the spring, whereas when the door is closed the spring in returning to its closed door position (Fig. 3) will assist in closing the door.

As previously pointed out, it is a very important object of my invention to provide improved catch means for holding the' door 21 in its closed position. This catch means comprises latching members which engage members attached to and movable with the door. The catch means, as shown, comprises a pair of latch members 40 which are pivotally secured adjacent the respective brackets 25. Each latch 40 is pivotally mounted on a pin 41 which in turn is supported by the lower of the walls defining the bottom 1'7 of the oven. As shown, the pin 41 is received in a suitable bushing 42 provided for it in the bottom wall, the bushing, as shown, being provided with an aperture 43 through which the lever 40 is passed. Preferably, the lever 40 will have a substantially U-shaped cross-section, and will be pivotally secured substantially mid-way of its length to the bushing 42. At its upper end the member 40 carries a roller 44 which as shown is arranged to rotate on a suitable pin 45, the ends of whichare supported in the opposite sides of the U-shaped channel member 40. As shown, the base of the U-channel adjacent the roller 44 is cut away so as to avoid any interference between the member 40 and the rotation of the roller.

Each latch 40 is so positioned relative to the path of movement of the adjacent bracket arm 25b that when the latch is in one position and the door is moved to the closed position (Fig. 2) the roller 44 carried by the catch will engage the latch portion of the bracket to hold the door closed. The arm 40 is biased to this latching position by means of a suitable compression spring 46 which, as shown, is interposed between the lower end of the arm 40 and a suitable stop or abutment 4'7 secured to the bottom of the oven.

It will be observed that the catch mechanism is so arranged that when the door nears its finally closed position, the brackets will engage the rollers 44, and that when the door is fully closed the rollers 44 will have slipped over the edges of the latch portions 30 so as to exert a latching or holding action on the brackets and hence will function to hold the door tightly closed.

It will be understood that while the springs 46 will be sufiiciently strong to effect a positive holding action on the door in its closed position, they will not unduly hinder or prevent the opening of the door.

It will be observed that when the door is being moved to its closed position and when it first enand closing movegages the door will be retarded, that is, unless additional pressure is applied, the door will remain slightly open, the door being held in this ajar position by the action of the counterbalance spring 32. This provision of means whereby the door can be held slightly open is important in that it provides means for airing out the oven which is desirable especially during broiling operations, and the like.

It will be understood that when the door is in this ajar position (Fig. 4), if it be desired to close the door, it is merely necessary to apply an additional pressure which will allow each roller 44 to snap or roll over the associated latch 30 to its positions shown in Fig. 2 so as to lock the door closed.

The door 21 is provided with a suitable pendant type handle 48 whereby it can be conveniently moved between its open and closed position. The broiler and service drawer are provided with similar handles 48.

In addition to the foregoing advantageous features, my door catch possesses the advantage that all parts of the mechanism are concealed. It will be observed that the members 25b, that is, the arms of the hinge brackets that are engaged .by the latch members are completely hidden by the oven door and its surrounding frame, and that the latch mechanism comprising the levers 40 and rollers 44, the springs 46 and their abutments 4'7 are arranged behind the front wall of the oven. This greatly improves the appearance of the range.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An oven comprising walls forming a heating chamber having a front opening therein, a door for closing said opening, hinge means pivotally mounting said door for swinging motion from a vertical closed to a horizontal open position comprising a bell-crank hinge arm, means securing said door to one arm of said bell-crank hinge arm so that said door is secured to one side of the pivotal axis of said bell-crank hinge arm, the other arm of said hinge arm projecting inwardly of said door substantially at right angles thereto, catch means arranged to engage the end of said projecting arm comprising a lever behind the front wall of said oven pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, a roller carried by one end of said lever arranged to be moved into the path of movement of the associated inwardly projecting arm, a spring engaging the other end of said lever biasing said roller into engagement with said arm to hold said door in its closed position and a stop for limiting the motion of said lever so as to position said roller in the path of movement of said projecting arm whereby when said door has been moved substantially to its closed position, said roller engages said arm so as to hold said door after it has been closed.

2. An oven comprising walls forming a heating chamber having a front opening therein, a door for closing said opening, hinge means pivotally mounting said door for swinging motion from a vertical closed to a horizontal open position comprising a pair of bell-crank hinge arms, means serollers 44 (Fig. 4), the motion of the curing said door to corresponding arms of said bell-cranks so that said door is secured to one side of the pivotal axes of said bell-cranks, the other arms of said bell-cranks projecting inwardly of said door substantially at right angles thereto, catch means arranged to engage the free ends of said last mentioned arms comprising a pair of levers below said heating chamber and behind the front wall of said oven pivotally mounted intermediate their ends, a roller carried by one end 01' each or said levers arranged to be moved into the path or movement 01. the associated inwardly 01' said lever biasing said roller into engagement with said bell-crank arm to hold said door in its closed position and a stop for limiting the motion of said lever so as to position said roller in the path of movement of said projecting arm whereby when said door has been moved substantially to its closed position, said roller engages said arm so as to hold said door after it has been closed.

FRANCIS H. McCORMICK.

projecting arm, a spring engaging the other end 

